German backpacker found in the outback
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (358301)
Rockingham, Australia
July 12, 2025 8:05pm CST
The big news in Western Australia over the last week has been the search for a German backpacker, Carolina Wilga. The 26-year-old was missing for ten days in rough country east of Beacon but was found Friday afternoon and is now recovering in hospital suffering from exposure and minor injuries. The nights are very cold there. She is one very lucky lady as there is no phone reception in that area.
We were in the Beacon area just twelve months ago and were fascinated by the rock formations in the area. I don’t have a photo of the thick bush that Carolina got lost in, but this shows a rock wall put in during the Great Depression to channel water off the rock into a tank.
Interestingly, Carolina’s surname, Wilga, is also the name of one of the our small towns.
12 people like this
11 responses
@DaddyEvil (153055)
• United States
7h
I'm glad they found her! Being lost out there can't have been fun!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (153055)
• United States
6h
@JudyEv Yes, it is...
I had a similar experience when I was in my twenties... I drove from my home in the center of the US out to the West Coast. On the way home, I overheated and got confused and then lost in Arizona. I was lost from Friday afternoon until Monday afternoon when the state police found me. I was admitted to the hospital with sunstroke, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. I was in the hospital for a week before my boss from Missouri drove out to bring me home again.
I did NOT enjoy the experience!
I really hope the woman recovers quickly from her experience.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (358301)
• Rockingham, Australia
3h
@DaddyEvil Goodness, that would have been a nasty experience indeed.
She was exhausted and had a lot of midgie bites. She also had a slight injury to one foot so she came off quite lightly really.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (194404)
• United States
4h
Wow! She is lucky for sure. I wonder where she got water?
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15617)
• Hong Kong
6h
I'm glad that she was found and no major injuries.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (10148)
•
10h
This made the news here Judy
Saw some glamorous pictures of Carolina
She did well surviving for that length of time
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (192592)
• United States
10h
Glad she was found. So when was the Great Depression in Australia?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (358301)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
It was through the 1930s, I think the same time as in the US.
@allknowing (149388)
• India
6h
I have noticed some youngsters like to do it alone and then get lost
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (76601)
• United States
9h
So thankful she was located alive and in relatively good condition!!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (358301)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
I think her parents were planning to fly out. Hopefully they learnt she was okay before leaving - although they might want to come out anyway to support her.
